Dean

Located in North Carolina's third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal - helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University's 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Ranked number one in North Carolina for social mobility, the mission and goals of the College of Arts and Sciences ( CAS) build on the University's Mission regarding the promotion of discovery and learning through cutting-edge research, rigorous inquiry, and interdisciplinary scholarship. A modern liberal arts education is at the heart of the College of Arts and Sciences, working to create a big impact on the world around us.

Representing 32% of the total student body, CAS is the largest and most diverse college at UNCG with an operating budget of close to $40 million dollars. The College of Arts and Sciences has a current enrollment of 5,886 students (5,290 undergraduates and 596 graduates). The student body is comprised of 65% of students who identify as female and 38% of students who are the first in their families to attend higher education. Approximately 75% of students are matriculated full-time, and 8.3% of students are from out-of-state, with the majority of students coming from states including Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, Florida, New York, and California.

When it comes to research, CAS works hard to bring the excitement of research into the classroom, providing students at both the undergraduate and graduate level opportunities to engage in cutting-edge research programs in addition to supporting faculty in their research endeavors to make a global impact within their areas of expertise. Students are supported through the Office of Undergraduate Research, and faculty in CAS are supported in their research by both the CAS Office of Research ( OOR) and the UNCG Office of Research and Engagement. The college boasts $12.9M in research funding and is host to a number of centers and institutes within the college. In FY 23, CAS was proud to have had 74 external research grants awarded to members of their faculty and research groups totaling almost $12.5 million dollars. In FY 24, CAS had 60 external research grants awarded totaling almost $14.3 million dollars. Recently, a $300,000 grant from the USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture, a $10,000 grant from the North American Pollinator Protection Campaign, and a $1.1 million dollar award from the NIG's National Institute of General Medical Sciences were awarded to faculty members within CAS. Four students were also named fellows in the prestigious National Science Foundation ( NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which is only awarded to 16% of applicants and supports outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the potential to be high-achieving scientists and engineers. Students in the College of Arts and Science benefit from a $5M grant from the Mellon Foundation that was awarded to implement a five-year paid internship and educational program for humanities students called "Humanities at Work".

The College believes in inclusive excellence and student success. Faculty and staff at both the university level and college level provide unparalleled student support. The University has a demonstrated track record of assisting students from all backgrounds to realize their fullest academic and professional potential and has done so by responding to the individual and collective needs and experiences of each student.

The College of Arts and Sciences is made up of over 25 departments with over 125 educational programs that range from pre-med to interior architecture, many of which are highly ranked. More than 50% of courses are taught by over 400 world-class faculty, many of whom are experts in their field. The college offers 37 undergraduate degrees, 45 undergraduate minors, and Master of Science, Master of Art, and Doctor of Philosophy degrees across most areas of study, as well as several post-baccalaureate certificates. With UNCG being named one of America's Top Online Colleges 2024 by Newsweek, ranking #1 in North Carolina and #6 in the U.S., CAS has been proud to offer several fully online degree programs for students. The College of Arts and Sciences is the primary provider of the university's general curriculum, with faculty teaching a considerable percentage of the general education courses. Given the high proportion of courses and credit hours in every undergraduate program that is taken within CAS, the dean plays a major role in leading the undergraduate general education curriculum for UNCG.

The University of North Carolina at Greensboro ( UNCG or the University) seeks a passionate, innovative, and strategic leader to serve as the next Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences ( CAS or the College). This is an exciting opportunity to join a community fiercely passionate about student success, access, research, scholarship, diversity, service, and community engagement. UNCG has been providing access and excellence since its founding in 1891 as a women's college (and as one of the three original institutions of the University of North Carolina System) and now as a public, coeducational, doctoral-granting, residential university, serving a vast array of students. The University community is comprised of approximately 18,000 students, including more than 3,600 graduate students and over 2,500 faculty and staff. The University holds two classifications from the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching: a "doctoral university with high research activity" and a university with deep "community engaged high research activity." Among the strengths of UNCG is its consistent ranking as the top university in North Carolina for social mobility (#1 on the Wall Street Journal list two years in a row; and #2 on U.S. News and World Report list). This category highlights the most successful institutions that enroll and graduate students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. In addition, the Wall Street Journal listed UNCG as providing the best college experience in North Carolina without the concomitant price tag, as evidenced by the New York Times ranking UNCG as the most affordable university in the state.

Reporting to the Provost, with CAS being the largest and most diverse college at UNCG, the dean will lead the college with a forward-thinking strategy, representing CAS as its chief academic and administrative officer. Representing 32% of the total student body, CAS has an operating budget of close to $40 million dollars. The College of Arts and Sciences has a current enrollment of 5,886 students (5,290 undergraduates and 596 graduates), over 400 world-class faculty, and is made up of over 25 departments with over 125 educational programs.

Guiding a robust educational, scholarship, and research agenda, the Dean of CAS will play a key leadership role in advancing the mission of CAS and emphasizing the significance of a liberal arts education within the institution and with external stakeholders as its chief advocate. The University's recent academic program review had an impact on the programs within the college, eliminating some with low student enrollment and interest. Working collaboratively across UNCG, the dean will champion interdisciplinary collaboration, curriculum innovation, and promote a culture of excellence in undergraduate and graduate education as well as in teaching and research. The dean will work closely with other senior university administrators to provide leadership in furthering both the mission and vision of UNCG in addition to establishing and implementing university-wide priorities. The dean will continue to lead discussions on resource allocations and program support going forward. The dean must also pay particular attention to the developing of relationships with alumni and donors as a passionate and inspiring champion to generate support for the endeavors and continued growth of CAS.

The successful candidate should hold an earned PhD, or equivalent terminal degree(s), and possess a record of recognized achievement in leadership, service, teaching and research.

The College of Arts and Sciences ( CAS) seeks in its next dean a transformational leader with the vision, energy, integrity, and humility to lead CAS to an even higher level of excellence, success, and prominence. The successful candidate will possess many of the following skills, credentials, and personal qualities:
* An outstanding scholar, qualified for hire as a full-tenured professor, with a deep appreciation and commitment to a liberal arts education and to the University's mission and vision; a commitment to being an advocate for the College of Arts and Sciences.
* Significant leadership and administrative experience in a large, complex organization; strong transparent management skills; including stewardship of fiscal and human resources.
* Evidence of successful involvement in development initiatives.
* An understanding of the unique advantages and complexities of a regional public university with a highly diverse student population; experience collaborating across university divisions.
* Proven ability to encourage, develop, and evaluate teaching, scholarly research, and creative activity across CAS with a commitment to interdisciplinarity.
* Demonstrated success in supervising and evaluating professional staff; proven ability to hire and inspire an enthusiastic and dynamic team.
* An understanding of the disciplinary differences across CAS and UNCG and the importance of balancing consistency in practices with disciplinary-relevant flexibility in the approach to policy and procedure, including promotion and tenure.
* Experience working with and ensuring the success of a diverse student body and workforce.
* Demonstrated aptitude in addressing concerns specific to a diverse community of domestic and international students, faculty, and staff.
* Strong and dynamic leadership skills, including experience leading in an environment that values shared governance.
* Demonstrated evidence of strong written and oral communication, interpersonal, and relationship-management skills; an ability to build and maintain relationships with multiple stakeholders, including campus partners, alumni, families, and employers.
* Effective presenter in formal and informal settings with the ability to articulate the distinctive benefits of a UNCG education to students, parents, employers, and other key stakeholders.
* Results-driven and adept at using data to inform decision-making and storytelling.
* Proven ability to foster and sustain innovation, collaboration, shared decision-making, and strategic partnerships; takes initiative and has sound judgment.
* Highest terminal degree within a College of Arts and Sciences discipline from an accredited institution.

UNCG has retained Isaacson, Miller has been retained to assist in the search for the Dean of College of Arts and Sciences.
Please direct all inquiries, nominations, referrals, and applications in strict confidence to:

Jackie Mildner, Partner (she/her)
David Grimes, Senior Associate (he/him)
Pamela Carty, Senior Search Coordinator (she/her)
Isaacson, Miller

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/university-north-carolina-greensboro-college-arts-and-sciences/dean